Eyeglass construction



Aug. v27, 1929. Rl s, BLAlR 1,726,466

EYEGLAS S CONSTRUCTION File@ Feb. 15, 1924 v2 sheets-sheet l Aug. 27,1929. R. s, BLAIR 1,726,466

EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb.. 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. 2;?, 1929.v

UNITED-STATES PATENT omer.;

ROBERTS. BLAIR,` or sfrAMroRD, CONNECTICUT;AssIeNoaro BAYsrArnor'rIcALcoMrANY, or Azr'i'rrisono,v M assAcHUsE'rTs-,A coaroaAmIoNfoF MAINE. Y

EYEGLASS ooNsaraiJo'rIofN,A `I

applifmnm med February 15V, 1.924.` serial Naf- 693,oo3.` i

This invention relates to eyeglass construction and with regard to itsmore specilic features to the construction of eyeglass temple bars. l

One of the objects of the invention isA to provide anzeye'glasstemplebar construction which is practical and eiiicient and adapted tomeet therequirements of practical use 1n a highly satisfactory manner. Anotherobject is toprovidea construction of the above nature particularly.adapted to afford the wearer a high degree ofy comfort and convenience.Another Aobject is.4 to provide such a construction, neat in appearance.and free from objectionable characteristics annoying to the wearer.Another object is to provide a practical and efficient art by `means ofwhich temple bars of the above nature may be conveniently constructed.Otherobjects will bein part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.l y

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements lof `parts and in the severalsteps and relation and order of each of the same to oneor more of theothers all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope ofthe `application-of which 'will be indicated in thefollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more possibleembodiments of the yseveral mechanical features of this invention.

Figure- 1 is .a frontv elevation partly-cut away and partly in sectionshow-ing a yform of apparatus adapted for use inimaking eyeglass templebars, a templey bar-member being shown in operative position therein.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional `View `of the apparatus showninFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same apparatus.

Figure 4 shows a portion lof the temple bar member aftervleaving rtheapparatus of Figures 1 tol 3;

Figure 5, on a smaller scale than Figure 1, shows the rear portion of acompleted temple bar.

Figure 6 shows a templebar member at an early stage in the process ofmanufacture.

Figure 7 is a modified formv of cutter adapted to be substituted intheapparatus of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 8 shows the member of Figur@ 6 after operationthereon bythecutter of 'FigF ure 7, A

Figure 9 Vshows themember at a later Stage in.. the' process of 'itsmanufacture- Figure' 10"`shows the, same member at a still later stage,"and `i Figure11 showsthe rear portionof a completed eyeglass' templebar. y Similar reference characters refertosimilar par-ts throughout theseveral :viewsof the drawings, j i Referring now to the drawingsindetail', and first to 'Figures 1 to 3, thereis Vshown a supporting basemember 10 which isv provided 'jwith .upstanding side"` walls 10W andendwalls 1()b forminga trough-like. con struction .open at'its top.Journaled in the left-hand end Wall` 10b isarshaft 11.the other end .ofWhich'fit will `:be ,understood is journaled` in asimilar manner in arighthand .end Wall, this latter party together with the right-hand endportion .of the apparatus 4being Vnot shown' in the drawing so as not tounnecessarily -encumb'er the same.` Supported in longitudinal `ways 12inthe side walls 1.0 of the base member 10 is a carriage 13 whichfisthus lmovable` in the Ways'12 back and forth.; longitudinally of thebase member 10.v Theshaftll `passes freely through theLr carriage 13'andis spline'd as indicated at 14.y Driven through` this spline llfis algear 15supported about the shaft 11 and movable with the carria e 13.

The carriage 13 has a pair of uprig t inclined supporting arms 13nin'which is journaled an inclined shaftl 16 carrying a tool 17 whichwill be'latcrz, described in detail.` Upon the` shaftY 16 ,isa gear 18meshing with an idler gear 19 support-ed by a stud` shaft 2O journaledinthe supporting arm 13? and-'asuitable bracket 21,` Which latterextends downwardly fitting loosely about p the `shaftv11` and holdingtheV gear 15 from lateral movement withy respect tothe carriage 13. l yg i The shaft 11 is provided' with an .extension 11ZL through which itisadapted `to be rotated by" any suitable source of power. The shaft 11`through the ,spline l14 rotates the gear 15, Whichlinturnthrough theidler 19`and gear 18, rotates the tool 17. The

ratio ofthe gearing `15, I19 and 18 is pre-ferablyi such that therotative speed l,of the shaft 16 carrying Athe tool 1'( 'is the same asthat 91"; .the driving shaft .11.

yno

v 13. Thelead screw22 is driven through a gear 24 thereon meshing with agear 25 upon the drive shaft 11a.

dica-ted by the arrows,'the lead screw 22 is rotated in the oppositedirection as indicated by the arrows and through' the boss 23 moves thecarriage 13 along the vways 12 toward the right. During this movement ofi ce scribed.

thefcarr'iage the gear c" 15 is continually .r0- tated through ythesplinel 14,7'thus rotating the tool 17. j l

' Projecting upwardly `at an incline from the rear wall a ofthe base 10is a ysupporting plate 26. j In a boss 27 at the left-y h'andend of theplate 26`isjo'urnaled a shaft 28 which forms a mandrel for supportingV atubular member 29 in position to be operated upon by the tool 17 as willpresently be dewhichV in turn meshes with the gear upon the drivingshaft 11a. The, ratio of the `gearing 25, 31 and 30 is preferably suchthat the rotative speed of the mandrel 28 is the same as that'of theshaft 11. yAs described above the rotative Vspeed vof ythe tool 17 isalso the same asthat of the shaft 11 so that thus the tool and the worksupporting mandrel have the same rotative speed, and their direction ofrotation is also the same.

f The rear supporting plate 26 is preferably pivoted to theI base '10 asat 32 so that the mandrel 28 maybe swung away from the tool 17 toajsuificient extent to permit the tool 17 to clear .the surface of thetubular member 29, so as to permit the tubular member .tov be positionedupon or removed from the mandrel v28 in an axial direction. Thismovement of the plate 26 is not Sufi'icient to f move the gears 30, 31and 25 out of mesh and maybe controlled by a screw 33 threaded through abracket 311-; The mandrel 28 is supported at its right-hand end in anysuitable formof removable bearing mounted upon the right-hand endof thesupporting plate 26. In order to Aposition a tubular member 29 uponthemandrel 28 therefore, the supporting `plate 26, is swungsubstantially to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2,and the removable right-hand bearing is removed. The tubular memberythen be slipped over the man` .drel in 4an axial direction fromltheright and preferablyhasfa driving fit upon the mandrel 28,7so that itfits tightly thereon and rotatestherewith. l

. i The tubularv member 29 is of Celluloid and is adaptedto formthelouterportion of an eyeglasstemple bar. It'jmaybe'here noted that theterm Celluloid as employed herein The shaft 11 therefore beingrotatedinthe direction in Secured to this shaft or 'mandrel' 28v is ageary 30 in mesh with anidler" gear 31 stances of the general nature ofCelluloid Y and adapted for use in making eyeglass parts. The tubularmember 29 may be made in any desired manner and its inner diameter ispreferably substantially that of the metallic `temple bar member overwhich it is adapted to fit and form a covering as will be laterdescribed'. The tubular member after formation is preferably cut to alength a little longer than is desired for the com pleted temple barmember and is thereupon positioned upon the mandrel 28 as abovedescribed, the mandrel being of sufficient length to accommodate thetubular member between its two end bearings.

The tool 17 preferably takes the form of a circular cutter provided withline peripheral teeth. As the tubular member 29 rotates with the mandrel28 the rotating cutter 17 cuts a slot inthe tubular Celluloid member.Due to the movement of the carriage 13 by the lead screw 22, this slotcut in the member 29 follows the path of a spiral and the inclination ofthe axis of the cutter, as has been described, assists in this spiralcutting action. The rotative speed of the cutter shaft 16 and of themandrel 28 are the same, but the contacting surfaces of the cutter andof the tubular member 29 move in opposite directions and the cutter 17is of substantially greater diameter than the tube so that the cuttingaction ofthe cutter 17 readily takes place.

At the start of the cutting operation the Celluloid tube having beenplaced 4upon the mandrel 28, as has been described, the supportinglplate 26 is swung inwardly toward the. cutter 17 by the screw 33 sothat the cutterv cuts completely through the wall of the tube asindicated in Figure '2. The mandrel 28 is preferably provided with aspiral groove 28a into which the periphery of the cutter projects. Sincethe mandrel 28, the cutter 17 andthe lead screw 22 are `always gearedtogether the cutter 17 will always strike the groove 28a no matter wherethe cutting operation is commenced. Preferably the cutting operation isstarted a short distance from the left-hand end. of the tube 29 ratherthan at the end so that the end of the tube may retain its tight gripupon the mandrel 28.

The periphery or edge of thecutter 17 is of nonuniform width. Preferablyat one side it is narrowed kto substantially a knifeedge and graduallyincreases in width in both directions from this portion to its oppositeportion 180 therefrom. This is 'clearly brought out in Figure 3 whereinthe portion of minimum width is shown at 17a at this instant operatingupon the Celluloid tube, and the portion of maximum width is shown onthe other 'side-of the axis ofthe cutter the axis of the cutter.A

at 17". Theeffect ofthis `variationin the width of the periphery ofthecutter 17( 'is that the spiral slot cut there/b in theV tube 29 is ofnon-uniform width. he slot varies in Width along its length alternatelybe# tween a minimum and a maximum. Since the speeds of rotation of thetube 29 and of the cutter 17 are the same, and since thus the tube makesone rotation while the cutter is making one rotation, the portions ofthe slot of minimum width allcome on one side of the axis of the tubeand the'portions of the slot of maximum width all come on the oppositeside of the axis vof the tube. This is clearly brought out in Figure 3wherein the portions 35a of the slotjrepresent the portions of minimumWidthand the 1- tions 3 5b of the slot represent the portions of maximumwidth. The portions? oftheslot on one side of an axial plane through theCelluloid tube are therefore of greater width than the portions ofthe-slot on the opposite side of the plane.` The structure of the tubethus cut is that of a spiral Cable comprising a strip of Celluloidlalternately varying in the width of its dimension lengthwise. lof thecable. The widest portions 29a of the strip are` on one side ofthe axisof the tube and the narrowest portions 29b of the strip are all on theopposite 'side of the axis.

The Wider portion 1v7b` of the cutter preferably increases slightly1v inwidth toward his is brought out in Figure l whereinthey cutter is viewedlooking radiali at this wide portion l17" so that its Asides 17divergingtoward. the axis may be seen. As shown in Fi ure 3 these sides17 C arey preferably provide with radial teeth. The 'portion of the slotcutby this portion. `17.1? therefore converges toward the axis ofthetube .as isshOWIl et 3'5"11th`6 sectioned portion of the tube in yFigure3. The narrower portion17ar of the cutter is of substantially ,uniformhQkIlQSS :IlWldly t0 the hub .17.e and the radial cutting teeth on thesides 17c preferabl VAterminate substantially as indicatedat 1 d. Y

The Celluloid tube 29is cut ,asabove' described throughoutf-isuief1t 0fits length to form the `curved portion or earpiece of the temple bar ofwhich it is tomform apart. The tube is thenremoved .from the apparatus,a portion thereof after, removal being shown in Figurei. -In Figure n5`therewis shown a metallic eyeglass temple bar memf ber 36 which it will.be understood extends forwardly kand is joined ,t0 V2111 eyeglass rimor other lens mounting the usual manner.

The rear portion of .this metallic temple bar member 36 is curyedto thecontour of an ear-piece and at its curved portion is preferablyflexible, being formed,.for examplefrom ka spirall coiled Wirf? mmbf asindicated at 36, w creby the desired de".-

gree lof flexibility is obtained.4 e This 'flexible f portion-of the`member 36 may comprise lits portionextending rearwardly from a` pointsuch as 36h, for example. 'The uncut portion of the celluloid tube'29 isof' substantially the length ofthe straight portion ofthe metallicmember 36,`the`cut portion thereof being as. above mentioned ofsubstantially piece. Theforward end of theuncut porr tionof thel tube isthen secured to the Afor.- ward end of the metallic'member 36 in anymanner asdesi-red. The extrem'erearv end of the member 36 is preferablythreaded and a Celluloid cap 37 is provided therefor. This cap 37 being`threaded into place, the coils of the tube r`29 are forced lsnuglytogether. The gaps between adjacent coils vare thereby closed! Becauseofthevariation in the width of thejcelluloid` strip com'- prising thecableor tube, the widest porf tions forming the outside of thefcur-ve y andthe narrowest portions .forming the 'inside of the curve, the portionsof the coils on the inside of the curve may be drawniup` closelytogether without 4any gaps-opening .between the` r coils on the outer'side' of the curve. This is of distinct practical importance ink thatsmall gaps between coils off the cable tend to catch the hair of theywearerv andare thus extremely objectionable. Itv will beI seen that `byVformingv the spiral cable, as above described, withthe coils graduallydecreasing in widthvfrom the outer side ofthe curve y,to the innerside-of the curye, this difficulty Iis overcome. It willffurtherseenvthat the inwardly converging slot por tion cut by the sides 17c ofthe wide'portion 17 b of the cutter further facilitates the 4compactdrawing together of the adjacent coils. The art; of making these templebars as described is one` which may beconyeniently and expeditiouslycarried on. 4

Referring now to Figure 7, thereis shown a modified form of cutteradapted to be sub# stituted for the cutter 17 shown yin Figures 1, 2-and 3. This cutter comprises ak cir-cular toothed member `Il() thecutting periphery of which is' uniformin width andl preferably as narrowas practicable and consistent with proper strength'. In" Fi ure 6 thereis shown a tubular member 29y o -celluloid similar to ness, the "spiralslot cut in the tube is of uni- Figure 11.

form' width and the resulting strip comprising the coils 29c is, ofsubstantially uniform width throughout.

InFigure 9 there is shown a curved mandrel 41 preferably of substantialrigidity and having Vsubstantially the curvature of the eyeglass temple4bar of. which the tube 29 is to form a part. The celluloid ftube havingbeen cut as shown in Figure 8 is placed upon thiscurved mandrel 41 Vasshown. At the curved portion of the spiral .cable comprising the coils29, the adjacent coils fit closely together along the inside of thecurve, but onthe ouside of the curve the coils spread apart leaving gapsas indicated at 42. In accordance with the process of this inventionnow. being described, the curved portion of this spiral cable orspirally eut Celluloid tube is now softened upon the mandrel 41 byheating or. other suitable treatment. The forward uncut `portion of thetube 29 is held from axial movement along the mandrel 41 by any suitablemeans and the softened coils ofthe curved portion are forced together bythrusting the cable forwardly along the curved mandrel from the rear.lThis forcing together of the coils is continued until the coils cometogether at the outside of the curvel closing the gaps 42. This resultsin a squeezingout ofthe softened celluloid on theinside o f the curve asindicated at 29d in Figure 10.

The Celluloid isnow permitted to harden again and -thereupontheprojecting parts 29 are removed by cutting to restore the cable to itsoriginal round, even contour. The tube is then removed from the mandrel41 and is in readiness for mounting upon the metallic temple bar memberjshown in It will be seen that after the softening and compressing stepsabove de'- scribed, the coils 29 of the curved portion of the temple barare of greater widthgon the outside of the curve than onV the inside.The portions of the coils on one side of an axial plane'throughthecurved ear piece are of greater width than the portions thereof onthe other side of the same plane. The strip of eelluloid which'comprisestheA cable is therefore of varying width alternately changing in widthgradually froma maximum at its outer portions to a minimum at its innerportions.v There are no gaps kbetween adjacent coils to collect dirt orcatch in thehair. The ca 37, shown in Figure 11, holds the celluloi'member in place upon the metallic member 36 substantially yas describedwith regard to Figure 5. y

From the above it will beseen that there are'herein provided atemplewbar construction and art of producing thesame which embody thefeatures of this inventionfand attain many practical and usefuladvantages. t Y l .1 As many possible embodiments may be made of f the`mechanical features of kthe above invention and as the art hereindescribed might be variedin v arious parts all without departing fromthe scope of the invention, it is'to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpretedi'as ilbars, a tubular member having formed therein aspiral'slot gradually varying in width between a maximum and a minimumat intervals lalong its length. I n v 3. In construction Vfor eyeglasstemple barsa tubular member having formed therein and extending aboutthe axis thereof a slot having a width greater at its portion on oneside lof said axis than at its portion on the opposite side of saidaxis. 4. In construction A for eyeglass temple bars, atubular memberhaving formedtherein a spiral slot encircling said member a plurality oftimes, the portions of said slot on one side of the axis of said memberbeing of greater width than theportions thereof on the opposite side.

, 5. In construction for eyeglass temple ybarsya tubular member havingformed therein a spiral slot extending through the walls thereof and ofa greater width at its portions 'on one side of the axis of said memberthan at its portions'on the opposite side.

y6. In `construction for y eyeglass temple bars, a tubular" memberhaving formed therein a spiral slot extending through the Walls thereof,saidA slot being of varying width, the

width lof the portions thereof on one side ofan axial plane through saidmember being greater Vthanthe widthl of the portions lthereof on theother side of said plane.

' 7. In i construction for eyeglass temple bars7 a tubular memberhavingformed therein a slotvextending about the axisthereofythe sidewalls of said slot throughout a portion of its lengthconvergingtowardthe axis of said' member.

8; Invconstruc'tio'n for eyeglass temple bars, a tubular member'havingformed thereona spiral slot encircling said member a plurality of times,the` side walls of said slot throughout its portions onA one side of anaxial plane through saidl member converging toward the axis ofrsaidmember.

,A 9. In construction for eyeglass temple bars, a tubular membervcomprisingk a plurality of lcontiguous coils lof Celluloid, said coilsbeing of lesser dimension lengthwise of s'aidftubular member attheirportions on one bars, a tubular member comprising a spirally` coiledstrip of celluloid, the

portions of the coils thereof on one side of t e axis of said 4 tubularmember being greater in width than the portions of said coils on theopposite side of said axis.

12. In Construction for eyeglass temple bars, a tubular memberComprising a spirally coiled strip of Celluloid gradually varying inwidth between a maximum and a minimum at intervals along its length, theportions thereof of minimum width Comprising the wall portion of saidtubular member substantially diametrically opposite the wall portionthereof comprising the portions of said strip of maximum width.

13. In construction for eyeglass temple bars, a curved tubular membercomprising a spirally coiled strip of Celluloid, said strip being ofgreater width at its portions forming the outer side of said curve thanat its portions forming the inner side of said curve.

14. In construction for eyeglass temple bars, a Curved tubular membercomprising a spirally coiled strip of Celluloid, said strip graduallydecreasing in width from its portions at the outer side of said curve toits adjoining portions on the inner side of said curve.

king a 15. In construction for eyeglass temple bars, in combination, acurved inner core member of metal, and an outer covering thereoncomprising a celluloid tube, said tube comprising a spirally coiledstrip the portions thereof on the outside of the curve being of greaterwidth than the portions thereof on the inside of the curve.

16. The herein described art of making eyeglass temple bars whichconsists in formtubular member of Celluloid and removing materialtherefrom in the ath of a spiral, a greater width of mater1al beingremoved at the portions of said spiral on one side of the axis of saidtube than on the opposite side.

17.`The herein described art of making eyeglass templek bars whichconsists in forming a tubular member of celluloid, spirally slottingsaid tube with a greater width of slot on one side of the axis thereofthan on the opposite side, and curving said slotted tubevwith its sidehaving said wider 'portions v of the slot forming the inner side of thecurve. Y

18. The herein described art of making eyeglass temple bars whichconsists in forming a tubular member of Celluloid, spirally slottingsaid tube with a greater width of slot on one side of the axis thereofthan on the opposite side, and placing said slotted tube upon a curvedmetallic Core member with its side having said wider portions of saidslot positioned at the inner side of the curve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name toV this specification this14th day of February, 1924.

l p ROBERT S. BLAIR.

